HD Mouse for Mac

User Reviews

• Very clever functions to get the most out of your mouse

  sonicraftDecember 21, 2010

  Pros

  Assign buttons, wheel to keystrokes and other commands, clever way of using different degrees of horizontal or vertical movements of the mouse to shuttle at different speeds, etc. Very clever. Simple interface, easily activated/deactivated.

  Cons

  One of the five mouse buttons MUST be dedicated to turning HD Mouse on/off. So if you wanted to use all 5 buttons for actual work, you can't. Support not so responsive.

  Summary

  I submitted a request for a keyboard command or software menu option to activate/deactivate HD Mouse. Perhaps because this falls outside their conception of how the software should be used, I was under the impression they didn't think it was such a good idea. As I understand it, they expect the user to be constantly switching the special mouse commands on/off. For me, I just want a couple special functions, but would like to leave it on. But without all 5 buttons, the things I was trying to do don't work like I wanted.<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Apr 18, 2011<p/>No change or updates in software since December. They don't seem to be very actively developing.<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Mar 9, 2012<p/>Recently, I discovered another app/prefpane called Steer Mouse which does what I need. I'm demoing it now, and if it works, I'll pop over and post a review if it is on this site.

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• Breath new life into a dead mouse...

  sonicraftJuly 26, 2010

  Pros

  Cons

  Summary

  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />Microsoft crippled my mouse with a new driver. Old driver had cool features but wouldn't run on my intel mac. I was either looking at an expensive new mouse, or a software solution. I checked VT and happened upon HD Mouse -- from Bella USA. This company provides a cool variety of input solutions for various creative work. Bella has a simple 5-button mouse/software package and now offers its software a la carte for use with other mice. The program is built for the power-user. It offers a ton of really impressive features. The price is VERY reasonable and I will probably buy it despite some issues listed below. For features, it's way cheaper and more powerful than a new mouse. In a sense, this is an environmental piece of software, because you may keep that old mouse out of the boneyard until its really worn out. In trial mode, I took HD Mouse software for a quick spin with my Intellimouse. I also spent some time on the phone with a polite and helpful tech support person. It may be a bit early in my experience to offer this feedback and suggestions, but I will follow up in the future with comments. PROS: *Assign necessary functions (including macros) to buttons, wheel, and even several ranges of vertical and horizontal movement of the mouse. VERY CLEVER!!! *Pressing modifier keys on the keyboard summons different sets of function assignments with the same mouse controls *Both Global settings and settings for the up-front application of your choice. *Different profiles for same application (to call up different sets of commands) *Easily activated and deactivated to switch between normal mouse and HD commands What follows are some gripes and feature requests for future releases: 1. I don't like that you must sacrifice one of your 5 buttons to enable/disable the software. I'd prefer it if this was either accomplished with a modifier+mouse button, OR with a menubar option only-- if that is what I want. If I have the software configured properly (for me), I could just turn it on and leave it on. 2. With my old MS driver, I could assign keystrokes both to the regular scrolling and scrolling with the wheel button held down. This was the BONANZA feature of that mouse and old driver!! I could hold the wheel button down and scroll to zoom in and out, and use the regular scroll normally. It would be cool of HD Mouse could recognize the wheel button as simple button when it is pressed and released (with no scrolling); but also treat the wheel button as a "wheel modifier" when held down during wheel movements (i.e., released after a wheel movement). Then commands could be assigned to either type of scrolling. 3. HD Mouse's potentially extensive use of the modifier keys can run into conflicts with the up-front applications which continue to respond to those modifier keys in their own ways. This requires some trial &amp; error, and planning to configure the software. It's another compelling reason to give up that one un-modified button that is reserved to switch HD on/off. 4. There is no way (as far as I can tell) to combine a modifier key (like option or control) with a mouse click. If I want to program the right mouse button to perform "Option-Click" it can't be done with any of the current methods. The macro functions don't permit modifiers. Bottom line: I think it's good software. I think the price is very reasonable. The issues I've mentioned are related to specific things I'd like to accomplish. For a person with a 5-button mouse, you will be pleased with the many new things you can do. I do hope future versions will do these three things: allow a non-mouse way to activate/deactivate the software, provide functions for "secondary-scrolling" (scrolling while wheel button is down), combine keystrokes with mouse functions.

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